Happy Friday to all who celebrate. For the weekenders, please accept our thoughts and prayers.
In this week’s edition of stories we didn’t get to for one reason or another, we hear about a dust up over access to Vermont legislators that is being blamed on Covid and building design. We also report on the usual movement of reporters and anchors to and from local stations.
Enjoy!
St. Louis declared January 19 “Very Asian Day.” The Very Asian Foundation all started with a racist voicemail KSDK anchor Michelle Li received last year. The voicemail said among other things Li was ‘very Asian’ and she should ‘keep her Korean to herself.’ “I still believe that that voicemail was a gift, because look what it did,” Li said. Click here for more.
VTDigger reports at least three reporters were turned away from committee hearings at the Vermont Statehouse (pictured) after members of the Vermont House of Representatives and state Senate said their meeting rooms had reached capacity limits. Those turned away include reporters from local stations CBS affiliate WCAX and Fox and ABC affiliate WVNY. Click here to read more.
The Wall Street Journal reports on a former local TV guy rose through the rank at Disney to eventually make nearly $120,000 a day. Click here to read about it (subscription link)
Christina Jensen is joining Baton Rouge, La. Fox affiliate WGMB as evening co-anchor. Jensen will co-anchor the 5:30 and 9 p.m. newscasts with Kelly Anne Beile. The two will be joined by chief meteorologist Ashley Ruiz and sports director Brian Holland. Click here for more.
Two Minneapolis television stations recently welcomed new reporters. Renée Cooper joined KSTP this week. Corin Hoggard has joined the team at FOX 9, where he’ll also report on the Twin Cities metro area. Click here to read about it.
Betsy Keefe will succeed Al Lancaster as general manager of WSAW in Wausau, Wisconsin. Lancaster will retire this March after nearly 45 years in the broadcasting industry. He has led WSAW for the past 23 years. Click here for more.
KHOU anchor Lauren Talarico recently announced on social media that she will now be covering the day shift instead in addition to anchoring weekend mornings for the Houston CBS affiliate. Read about it here.
Jaclyn Lee is saying goodbye to WPVI in Philadelphia. “My time at @6abc has come to an end. It’s been an incredible 3 years. I can’t thank you enough for your kindness. This isn’t a goodbye, it’s a see you later. Can’t wait to share what’s next. Forever your biggest fan, Jaclyn,” she wrote on Twitter.